Loosening apparatus for wall coverings



A. S. CHRISTOPHER LOOSENING APPARATUS FOR WALL COVERINGS WAT E R Feb.17, 1953 Filed Sept. 28, 1949 LPUMP Feb. 17, 1953 A. s. CHRISTOPHERLOOSENING APPARATUS FOR WALL COVERINGS 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Sept. 28,1949 Hgii llIIIIIH 73" I al I nu I gi/glf Patented Feb. 1 7, 1 953LOOSENING APPARATUS FOR WALL COVERINGS Albert S. Christopher, Chicago,Ill.

Application September 28, 1949, Serial No. 118,377

'7 Claims.

, This invention relates in general to loosening apparatus for wallcoverings and more particularly to apparatus for loosening old wallpaper and similar wall coverings or coatings to facilitats the removalthereof from walls or like surfaces.

An important object of the invention is to provide such apparatus whichwill be quick in starting and in operation. In similar apparatusprovided heretofore, steam is supplied from a remote source such as aboiler wherein a considerable quantity of Water is heated to provide thesteam. The time lag in such an operation is proportional to the volumeof water in the boiler and is, therefore, ordinarily considerable. Inaccordance with my invention, this time lag is materially reduced orsubstantially eliminated by generating steam at the applicator whereasmall volume of water may be rapidly heated to provide the steam andthis under the constant control of an operator as operating conditionsmay require.

Another object is to provide for conditioning steam at the applicator,such as by introducing water or mixing water therewith to increase themoisture content thereof in accordance with surface requirements.Relatively dry steam is required for the loosening of surface coveringshaving paint, varnish or similarly impervious exterior coating thereonwhile relatively porous surface coverings such as wall paper and somehardened plaster coverings may be more readily loosened for removal bythe application thereto of saturated or vet steam. Apparatus constructedin accordance with my invention permits ready adjustment by an operatorso that either dry or wet steam may be applied to surfaces in accordancewith requirements without materially interrupting operation of theapplicator.

Other objects, and structural features, will be obvious as the inventionis better understood from the following description, which, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, discloses an embodimentthereof.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating apparatus embodying theinvention including an applicator;

Fig. 2 is a plan View showing the top of the 7 applicator illustrated inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the same,

viewing the applicator from the left in Fig. 1;

Fig- 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing enlarged structuralvdetails. for mounting an adapter as intercepted on the plane 66 in Fig.1.

The features of my invention include the provision of apparatusrforapplying relatively dry steam directly to wall surf-aces when requiredand similarly apparatus for applying wet steam to such surfaces when thecondition of the surface requires or permits. These features may beincorporated in varying form in accordance with predeterminedrequirement, such as where limited operation is required a relativelysimple or mostly self-contained unit maybe utilized, while extensive orlong continued operational requirements may be most eflicientlyexpedited by such apparatus in which the applicator is arranged forconnection to one or morev remotely located supply sources so thatperiodic recharging operations would not be required. To illustrate onesuch embodiment arranged for receiving fuel and water supplies fromremote supply units, I have shown a water tank ll, having a poweroperable pump l2 associated therewith, a high pressure fuel tank l3, anapplicator unit I 4, and flexible conduits l5 and I6 connecting theapplicator unit M with the pump l2 and the fuel tank I3 respectively.

The water supply tank ll may be any suitable container such as the opentank shown, to which the pump l2 may be operably connected for supplyingwater under pressure to the applicator unit M through the conduit I5. Asuitable by-pass pressure regulator 2| may be connected in the pumpdischarge pipe 22 to which the conduit I5 is connected. Obviously theconduit 15 may be connected directly to a suitable water supply whensuch is available, or a small water container may be mounted directly onthe applicator when water requirements are not extensive.

The fuel tank l3 illustrated is a commercial high pressure container inwhich any suitable fuel gas may be stored under relatively highpressure, having a pressure regulator 23 controlling the outlet thereofwhereby the gas pressure may be reduced in accordance with requirementsbefore being discharged into the conduit I6 whereby it is conducted tothe applicator M. A suitable pressure gage 24 may be connected with theconduit 6 to indicate operating pressure.

The applicator I4 is essentially a pan' shaped hood 3|, a peripherallaterally extending flange 32 of which defines a suitable steam chamberwhen placed against a wall surface, a suitable manipulating handle 33whereby the hood 3| may be moved over or pressed against a wall surface,and at least one jet or nozzle 34 through which steam may be dischargedunder" the hood 3! or into the steam chamber formed thereby.

In the present embodiment two steamgenerators 35 are carried by thehood'3l and a gas burner 38 is provided for each one or the steamgenerators 35. These units are provided in duplicate for balance andhigh operating efllciency, but it will be obvious that the applicatormay be provided with more or less of such units upon occasion as aboveindicated. All duplicate parts in these units are identified by the samereference numerals.

The steam generator 35 illustrated includes a series of helical windingsor coils of relatively small diameter metallic tubing, such as an innercoil 4| and an outer coil 42. These coils are prefcrably formed of acontinuous tube which is provided with suitable fittings at each endthereof, whereby it may be connected to a control valve 43 and a mixinghead 44. The coils 4| and 42 are preferably close wound and areproportioned and arranged to form a duct 45 at the upper end of the coil4|. Where the coils are not in lapped relationship, the exteriorsurfaces thereof may be covered with an insulating sleeve such as thesleeves 48 and 41 and a metal sleeve 48 mounted over the sleeve 41 andcarrying a closure plug 49 of insulating material forms a heat trap atthe top of the coils.

The steam generator 35 is carried on the applicator l4 through itsconnections with the valve 43 and the mixing head 44. The valve 43 isrigidly mounted on a supply pipe 52, as shown in Fig. 4, and the mixinghead 44 is rigidly mounted in the hood 3| by means of the nozzle 34 asshown in Fig. 5.

The supply pipe 52 is arranged for connection to the conduit l5 and isbranched out for con nection to the valves 43. A continued extension 55of the pipe 52 connects to a control valve 56 whereby water may besupplied to the mixing head 44 through a balancing valve 51 connected tothe control valve 58 by a pipe nipple 58 and to the mixing head 44 by anipple 59.

A stem 82 of the control valve 58 extends through a bracket 83 of thehandle 33 for engagement by a pivoted lever 84 having pivotal support onthe bracket 63 as at 85, Fig. 5, and extending therefrom for engagementby an operator. The valve 58 may be of a type in which the lin pressuretends to unseat the valve and this tendency may be normally counteractedby a suitable compression spring 88. A threaded screw 81 extendingthrough the lever 64 and having threaded engagement in the bracket 83locates the spring 88 and provides means for regulating the valve 58.

The extension 55 of the supply pipe 52 extends through an opening 88 ina lower bracket 89 of the handle 33 for support therein.

The gas burners 38 include a jet 1| arranged to discharge fuel into acombustion tube 12 carried in a bracket 13 which is attached to the hood3| with the jet 1| and tube 12 arranged to heat the steam generator 35.The jet 1| is connected through a control valve 14 to a supply pipe 15which is arranged for connection to the conduit l6. It will be obviousthat any suitable commercial heating unit operating on gaseous or liquidfuels or by electricity such as may be controlled by an operator may beutilized for generating steam as above described.

While the applicator hood 3| illustrated is rectangular or substantiallysquare in outline to facilitate operation into square corners, it willbe obvious that hoods of other shapes canbe provided when required byoperating conditions such as when relative narrow recessed surfaces areto be treated an elongated rectangular hood may be provided, and wherecurved surfaces may be encountered correspondingly curved hoods may beprovided.

To provide means for adapting the applicator shown to abnormal surfaces,I have shown an adapter 8| of oblong or elongated rectangular form andrelatively deep to facilitate operation in relatively deep recesses. Theadapter 8| and hood 3| are arranged for detachable mounting of theadapter 8| to permit independent operation of the hood 3| orsubstitution of the adapter for other interchangeable adapters formed inaccordance with other surface conditions as above described.

The adapter 8| may be formed of any suitable material, such as sheetmetals, arranged to form a hollow tube of rectangular or other suitableform having a laterally extending base flange 82 formed at one endthereof. A sponge rubber or similar gasket 83 may be clamped between theadapter flange 82 and the hood 3| for sealing the joint. The base flange82 is proportioned to fit freely inside of the peripheral flange 32 ofthe hood 3| at two points on opposit edges of the hood 3|, Figs. 1, 2and 6, so that when the flange 82 is engaged behind a retaining flange84 extending laterally from the peripheral flange 32, an opposite edgeportion of the flange 82 may be clamped against the gasket 83 and thehood 3| by means of a suitable clamping device to rigidly mount theadapter on the hood 3| in sealed relationship therewith. Retainingflanges 84 may be provided on two edges of the hood 3| as shown tofacilitate attachment of the adapter 8| in either vertical or horizontalrelationship.

A suitable latching device is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, includinga hook element 85 and a latch bar 86. The hook element having a hingedconnection with the latch bar at a point 81 near an end 88 thereof. Theend 88 is formed out of alignment with a plane extending between thepoint of the hook 85 and the bearing point 81 so that it will normallyremain in latching position as shown until the remote end of the bar 88is lifted or rotated counter-clockwise. To clamp the adapter to the hoodfor operation the hook 85 and end 88 are engaged with the hood andflange 82 respectively and draw these parts together in clampedrelationship as an incident to clockwise rotation of the bar 88.

In operation, water and fuel is supplied under pressure through theconduits l5 and I8 to the applicator |4 when same is operably connectedthereto. To start steam generation one or more of the gas burners 38 maybe started and adjusted by means of control valve 14 to preheat thecoils 4| and 42. Heat from the burner circulates upwardly through thecoil 4| into the heat trap 5| and then downwardly between the coils asindicated by arrows in Fig. 4.

The applicator is then ready for operation and by adjustment of thevalve 43 relatively dry steam will be generated and issue from thenozzle 34 in such volume as may be determined by the adjustment of thevalve 43. Pressure may be built up under the hood 3| or in the adapter8| by pressing the applicator against the surface under treatment torestrict the escape of steam.

When a relatively wet steam is required by the surface under treatment,water may be mixed with the dry steam to condition the steam inaccordance with requirements. This may be accomplished by depressing thelever 84 and thereby opening the water control valve 58 to the extentrequired by surface conditions. The balancing valve 51 is provided tofacilitate balancing by means of an adjusting screw 9| to equalize theflow of water when two or more steam generating units are coupled forsimultaneous operation.

Pressure. on the lever 64 releases water into the mixing head 44 whereit is mixed with steam in a mixing chamber 92 and as an incident to itsdischarge through the nozzle orifice 93, Fig. 5. Upon occasion theoperating position of the lever 64 may be fixed by the adjusting screw61 so that constant pressure on the lever 64 by an operator need not berequired.

A suitable heat guard 95, such as a formed sheet metal covering, may beattached to the handle 33 and to the hood 3| to shield an operators handfrom excessive heat during operation.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention, or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formsherein-before described being merely preferred embodiments thereof.

I claim:

1. An applicator adapted for manipulation over a wall surface to effectthe loosening of wall paper or similar coating thereon, comprising abody having a handle and a steam confining hood for confining steam topredetermined surface areas, means including a continuously operablesteam generator and a conductor for discharging steam under theconfining hood, and periodically operable means including a separateconductor for discharging water into the steam conductor adjacent theconfining hood for mixture with the steam prior to the discharge thereofunder the confining hood so that the moisture condition of the steam maybe instantaneously controlled in accordance with operating requirements.

2. An applicator for manipulation over a wall surface to effect theloosening of wall paper or similar coatings thereon, comprising a bodyhaving a handle and a steam confining hood wherein steam may be confinedand applied to a wall surface, said body carrying steam generating meansconnected with the confining hood and arranged for control by anoperator, and water mixing means carried by said body and connected withthe steam generating means near the connection thereof with theconfining hood, said water mixing means including a manually operableflow control valve arranged for manipulation by an operator by means ofwhich steam may be instantaneously conditioned by addition of water forapplication in accordance with varying surface conditions.

3. A steam generating applicator including a hood shaped body adaptedfor manipulation over wall surfaces for the purpose of effecting theloosening of wall paper or similar coatings thereon, said applicatorcarrying continuously operable steam generating means, having a fixedoutlet in the hood shaped body, and manually controlled variable waterinjecting means also carried by said body and connected with the steamgenerating means adjacent the fixed outlet thereof and bein operable forinstantaneously mixing water with steam from the steam generating means.

4. An applicator for manipulation over a wall surface to efiect theloosening of wall paper or similar coatings thereon, comprising a bodyhavhood, and means including a by-passjconnection and a control valveoperably connected with the mixing head for directly injecting waterinto the steam at the mixing head for mixture with the steam adjacentthe discharge outlet'therein.

5. In an applicator for the purpose described the combination of a bodyhaving a recessed side for cooperation with a wall surface. to form asteam chamber, means including a: connecting head and a conduitconnected therewith for conducting a constant supply of steam to therecessed side of the applicator, said connecting head having a dischargeopening into the steam chamber, with manually operable steamconditioning means connected therewithfat the connecting head forinjecting water therein for mixture with the steam prior to thedischarge thereof through the discharge opening.

6. In an applicator for the purpose described the combination of a bodyhaving a recessed side for cooperation with a wall surface to form asteam chamber, continuously operable steam generating means carried bysaid body for supplying steam continuously, and means including a mixinghead and a conduit connecting the steam generating means with the steamchamber and having a discharge opening therein, with steam conditioningmeans for saturating steam by the injection of water, said conditioningmeans being attached to the mixing head and including a manuallyoperable variable ,flow control valve.

7. An applicator adapted for manipulation over a wall surface to effectthe loosening of wall paper or similar coating thereon, comprising abody having a handle and a steam confining hood for confining steam topredetermined surface areas, steam generating means carried by .said bodand having water supply line connections for receiving water supply froma remotely located supply source, said steam generating means beingoperably connected toa discharge head for discharging steam under theconfining hood, and means including a by-pass conduit and aninterconnected control valve therefor mounted for control by an operatorfor passing water from the water supply line connections into thedischarge head for mixture with steam therein.

ALBERT s. CHRISTOPHER.

REFERENCES CITED- The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

